Fast WDM provisioning with minimal probing: the first field experiments for DC exchanges

TL;DR

This paper introduces a rapid WDM provisioning method using minimal probing and link-by-link GSNR estimation, validated through field experiments, enabling fast optical path setup within 6 minutes.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach for accurate end-to-end GSNR estimation using simple link measurements and demonstrates field experiments for fast WDM provisioning in data center interconnects.

Findings

GSNR estimation accuracy within 0.6 dB for end-to-end links

WDM path provisioning completed within 6 minutes

Field experiments confirm the approach's effectiveness

Abstract

We propose an approach to estimate the end-to-end GSNR accurately in a short time when a data center interconnect (DCI) network operator receives a service request from users, not by measuring the GSNR at the operational route and wavelength for the End-End optical path but by simply applying a QoT probe channel link by link, at a convenient wavelength/modulation-format for measurement. Assuming connections between coherent transceivers of various frequency ranges, modulators, and modulation formats, we propose a new device software architecture in which the DCI network operator optimizes the transmission mode between user transceivers with high accuracy using only standard parameters such as Bit Error Rate. In this paper, we first experimentally built three different routes of 32 km/72 km/122 km in the C-band to confirm the accuracy of this approach. For the operational end-to-end GSNR measurements, the accuracy estimated from the sum of the measurements for each link was 0.6 dB, and the wavelength-dependent error was about 0.2 dB. Then, using field fibers deployed in the NSF COSMOS testbed (deployed in an urban area), a Linux-based transmission device software architecture, and coherent transceivers with different optical frequency ranges, modulators, and modulation formats, the fast WDM provisioning of an optical path was completed within 6 minutes (with a Q-factor error of about 0.7 dB).